State designates $5 million in grants for farms damaged by recent rain storms

Luther Turmelle

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12:00 am EDT, Sunday, June 23, 2013

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State designates $5 million in grants for farms damaged by recent rain storms

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HARTFORD >> Connecticut farms that have suffered unrecoverable losses to crops or property damage can now turn to the state for emergency assistance.

Gov. Dannel Malloy announced Sunday the state has designated $5 million in grants available to help storm damaged farms recover. Malloy's announcement comes a week after he toured the Killam and Bassette Farmstead in Glastonbury, which suffered flood damage from heavy rains earlier this month.

Malloy said financial awards to individual farmers will depend upon how many applications are received. The deadline for submitting the applications is July 15th.

"Over the last two years, our state's farm sector endured a series of severe weather-related blows that have put many of their businesses in peril," Malloy said in a statement. "Agriculture is an industry with tremendous growth potential, contributing $3.5 billion to Connecticut's economy and accounting for about 28,000 jobs in our state. Unfortunately, federal crop insurance programs that protect large farms in other parts of the country aren't designed for small diversified farms like ours."

"Farmers are resilient by nature and skilled at diversifying the risks associated with such a weather-dependent profession," State Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky said in a statement. "But some events, such as February's blizzard and this month's excessive rains, are beyond expectation and defy the best-laid plans and business models. This timely assistance will help farmers who have suffered substantial loss salvage this season and keep their small businesses afloat, in turn, allowing them to continue providing the fresh Connecticut Grown products sought by our state's residents and visitors."

Farms that receive the grants can be used in a variety of ways, including repairing damaged property or equipment, replacing lost crops and purchasing feed needed to supplement corn or hay ruined by sever weather which would have been used for livestock.

Farms that apply for the loan must demonstrate having suffered a loss..", file appropriate tax documentation such a Schedule F,and provide proof of business ownership as well as evidence that the owner is current with state and local taxes. Applications for the grants are available on both the DECD and Department of Agriculture web sites.

Farmers seeking additional information on the program can call (860) 713-2573.